Salcedo, Eastern Samar passes historic resolution on climate accountability

SALCEDO, Eastern Samar (10 Nov 2023)—Today, the Municipality of Salcedo^[1], Eastern Samar announced that they had passed a Municipal Resolution^[2] on climate accountability. 

The Resolution, the very first of its kind in the Philippines, seeks “accountability for conduct directly contributing to climate change and its consequent impacts on the people of the Municipality of Salcedo”, and directs the local government to “pursue any and all actions on behalf of the people of Salcedo for the losses and damages inflicted upon the communities due to the impacts of extreme weather events.”

It further states that “the Sanggunian, on behalf of the people of Salcedo, is resolute in its pursuit for accountability and reparations for the losses and damages brought about by the detrimental impacts of the climate crisis caused by fossil fuel companies responsible for the excessive and cumulative greenhouse gas emissions.” It also aims “to position the Municipality of Salcedo as a pro-active advocate for climate justice, demonstrating practices in alignment with the Paris Agreement.”

The Resolution, which is fully supported by Municipal Mayor Ma. Rochelle G. Mergal, was sponsored by Municipal Councilor Joselito C. Esquierdo, and co-sponsored by all members of the Committee on Environment. It was approved last Monday, November 6, 2023, two days before the 10th anniversary of Super Typhoon Yolanda.

The announcement coincided with a community forum organized by Greenpeace to present the Policy Brief entitled “Enforcing accountability: holding fossil fuel companies liable for climate crisis—unveiling loss and damage of extreme weather events, the Salcedo, Eastern Samar perspective.” The policy brief provides a snapshot of the lived experiences of Filipino communities of compounding climate impacts that exacerbate economic, social, psychological and cultural losses. It aims to support decision and policy makers in their efforts to hold Carbon Majors along with financiers and States where they are domiciled, accountable for compensation, remedy, redress and reparations for the economic and non-economic harm, damage and losses inflicted on communities, ensuring that the need for accountability is grounded in a comprehensive, holistic human rights approach.

Greenpeace believes that fossil fuel companies must pay their climate debt: give money to climate-impacted communities to compensate for the losses and damages—both economic and non-economic—experienced by people. They must also stop fossil fuel expansion and phase out fossil fuels by committing to a just transition. The Greenpeace ship, the Rainbow Warrior is currently in the Philippines to join communities in their call for the government to demand justice and reparations by making polluters pay for climate impacts. 

###

Note to Editors:

[1] The municipality of Salcedo is located along the eastern seaboard of the province of Eastern Samar in Region VIII, or the Eastern Visayas Region. Salcedo, a fifth class municipality, covers a total land area of 113.68 square kilometers (sq km). It is bounded on the north by Matarina Bay; on the south by the municipality of Mercedes, Eastern Samar; on the east by the Pacific Ocean; and on the West by the Leyte Gulf. It is composed of 41 barangays, with 26 coastal barangays and two (2) island barangays. (Text taken from the official website of Salcedo, Eastern Samar.)

[2] The complete title of the Resolution is “A Resolution seeking accountability for conduct directly contributing to climate change and its consequent impacts on the people of the Municipality of Salcedo, authorizing the local Chief Executive to do whatever is necessary and proper pursuant to the Municipality of Salcedo’s local autonomy and its constitutional duty to uphold the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in addressing climate change and its impacts, also hereby directing the appropriate Sanggunian Bayan committee to craft policies appropriate for achieving the purpose of this resolution, finally, adopting the findings and recommendations outlined in the policy brief entitled “Enforcing accountability: Holding fossil fuel companies liable for climate crisis – unveiling loss and damage of extreme weather events, the Salcedo, Eastern Samar perspective”, and  pursue any and all actions on behalf of the people of Salcedo for the losses and damages inflicted upon the communities due to the impacts of extreme weather events.”

• The Resolution
  • Authorizes the local Chief Executive to do whatever is necessary and proper pursuant to the Municipality of Salcedo’s local autonomy and its constitutional duty to uphold the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in addressing climate change and its impacts
  • Directs the appropriate Sanggunian Bayan committee to craft policies appropriate for achieving the purpose of this resolution, and
  • Adopts the findings and recommendations outlined in the policy brief entitled “Enforcing accountability: holding fossil fuel companies liable for climate crisis–unveiling loss and damage of extreme weather events, the Salcedo, Eastern Samar perspective”, and  pursue any and all actions on behalf of the people of Salcedo for the losses and damages inflicted upon the communities due to the impacts of extreme weather events

A copy of the Resolution can be accessed in this link.

A copy of the Greenpeace policy brief can be accessed in this link.

Briefing papers:

• Greenpeace Ship Tour | Campaign policy briefer
• Fossil fuel accountability

QUOTES:

Salcedo Municipal Mayor Rochelle Mergal

“Salcedo and our neighboring municipalities are coastal communities—we bear the brunt of extreme weather here. Repeated climate change impacts make it hard for our people to recover each time, and severely limits our capacity to address this crisis.

This resolution means the Municipality of Salcedo stands with its people in demanding that climate polluters be held accountable for their role in worsening climate change—and we urge our fellow vulnerable communities, whether in Eastern Samar or in the rest of the Philippines, to join us in this call.”

Felisa Castro, President, Kusog han Kababayen-an han Salcedo Federation (KAKASA)

“If the weather wasn’t constantly changing, then our families wouldn’t be struggling. Even when our livelihood is starting to thrive, another storm comes our way and we’re back to recovery again.

Our demand here is for polluters—the big oil and gas companies—to pay their destructive emissions, and for the loss and damage here in Salcedo.”

Jefferson Chua, Greenpeace campaigner

“What happened today in Salcedo is a historic moment—communities will no longer take the climate crisis sitting down, and will no longer bear the burden of climate destruction while fossil fuel polluters continue to evade justice.

“We hope this can be the spark we need to bridge the gap of empathy felt by people who may not be aware of the true scope of impacts caused by climate change, for the communities that are only seeking what they deserve: to make polluters pay.”